We will be recognizing Nigerian Cardinals in the Catholic Church in this article.
The Catholic church is one of the oldest and earliest religious organisations in the world, with over 1.3 billion members and branches across the world. It has played a very important role in the history and development of western civilization. With 24 churches, 3500 dioceses and parishes across the world.
The Catholic church has an overseer who sees the affairs of the church and resides in the Vatican city of Rome – the Pope. Pope Francis is the current and 266th pope. The Pope of the Catholic church is an office of papacy and he has an ecclesiastical jurisdiction called the ‘Holy See’.
Cardinals of the Catholic Church
The cardinal is a rank of honour bestowed by Popes on certain clerics, such as leaders within the Roman Curia, bishops serving in major cities and distinguished theologians, and they are available to advise and assist in governing.
Following the death or resignation of a pope, members of the college of cardinals who are under 80 act as an electoral college to elect a successor.
However, Since the inception of the church, there’s only ever been five Nigerian Cardinals and they are:
1. Cardinal Dominic Ignatius Ekandem:
Cardinal Ekandem, as he was fondly called, was the first Bishop of West Africa. He was born in 1917.
He was from Akwa Ibom and was the first Nigerian to be appointed a cardinal. He was ordained a priest in December, 1 1947 at the age of 30. He was later appointed an Auxiliary Bishop in 1754 and was consecrated in 1956. Later on, Ekandem was elevated to the post of a Cardinal in 1976, at the age of 59.
He lived for 78 years and died in 1995.
2. Cardinal Arinze Frances:
Cardinal Arinze was born on November 1, 1932, and he hails from Anambra state. He was ordained a priest in 1958. He grew in the ranks and obtained many positions within the church.
He was later appointed by Pope John Paul II as the Pro Prefect in the Interreligious Dialogue of Roman Curia, before being elevated to be a Cardinal in May 1985.
3. Cardinal Olubunmi Anthony Okogie:
The former Archibishop of Lagos was born on 16th June 1936 and hails from a Royal family in Edo state. He was ordained a priest in December 11th 1966 but served as a chaplain in the Nigerian Army.
In 1971, he was consecrated Titular Bishop of Mascuka and Auxiliary of Oyo. He was named an Archbishop in 1973. He was the President, Christian Association of Nigeria from 1994-2000.
He was proclaimed Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of 21 October 2003.
4. Cardinal John Onaiyekan:
Another one of the Nigerian Cardinals in the Catholic Church, he was born on the 29th of January 1944 in Kabba, Kogi state. He was the Archbishop of Abuja from 1994-2019.
In 1980, Pope John Paul II named Onaiyekan to a five-year term on the International Theological Commission. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Ilorin, Kwara state in September 1982 and was consecrated Bishop in 1984.
He was named Synod Father of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 2012.
He was named a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in a consistory on 24th November 2012.
5. Cardinal Peter Okpaleke:
The former Bishop of Ekwulobia is a Nigerian Cardinal in the Catholic church; he functions as a Prelate. He was born 1st of March 1963 in Amesi, Anambra state.
On the 7th of December 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Okpaleke, Bishop of Ahiara and he was consecrated on the 21st May 2013.
On the 19th of February 2018, he resigned as the Bishop of Ahiara and Two years after he was appointed Bishop of Ekwulobia in March 2020.
However, on the 29th of May 2022, Pope Francis announced he would make Okpaleke a Cardinal at a consistory scheduled for 27th August.
